[Opinion] Commemorating the 1st Gwangyang-si Entrepreneurs' Day on November 4

Lee Baek-gu, Chairman of Gwangyang Chamber of Commerce and Industry

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] November 4, 1981, is a very meaningful day for the citizens of Gwangyang.

It is the day when the site for South Korea's second steel mill was finally confirmed to be in Gwangyang, marking the beginning of a dramatic transformation and the arrival of the steel industry.

Mountains were cut down, roads were built, the sea was reclaimed, many factories were established, apartments were constructed, and people from all over the country gathered.

In 1987, the first molten steel flowed from the Gwangyang Steel Mill, and it has since transformed into the nation's leading steel city and corporate city driving the national economy.

Starting with the completion of the first phase of the Gwangyang Container Terminal in 1997, Gwangyang Port has steadily grown to become the top port in South Korea for import and export cargo volume, firmly establishing itself as a world-class steel port city.

Just as iron ore enters a blast furnace to become iron, the rice of industry, the small and ordinary farming and fishing village of Gwangyang has become a small Korea where people from all eight provinces live together.

At times, there were conflicts and discord.

There were misunderstandings, and sometimes we failed to properly explain our shortcomings.

However, we have all turned crises into opportunities for new leaps forward, and have reached today as "Gwangyang, a small but strong city; Gwangyang shining even brighter in crisis." The 41 years we have run together have truly been a time of dramatic transformation.

Now is the time to look back once and look ahead.

What in the world is ever guaranteed? What we enjoy now is not something to be taken for granted, but made possible by someone's dedication and effort.

Sometimes, it is necessary to remember the love for Gwangyang shown by our predecessors who made today's Gwangyang possible, to think about what we must do now for Gwangyang's future as they did, and to comfort, thank, and support the hard work of businesspeople who are like the air?often unnoticed in daily life.

With this in mind, the Gwangyang Chamber of Commerce and Industry proposed an ordinance amendment to designate November 4 as Businessperson's Day, and the Gwangyang City Council thoughtfully and willingly agreed to this.

This year, under the theme of "Respect and Gratitude, Responsibility and Duty," the city is preparing for the "1st Gwangyang City Businessperson's Day."

The first part, the "1st Gwangyang City Businessperson's Day Commemoration Ceremony and New Entrepreneurship Spirit Proclamation," will look back on the past 40 years shared with citizens through the daily lives of businesspeople, declare the new role of businesses, and share directions for mutual growth between citizens and the region.

The second part, the "Gwangyang Economic Report," will present and share with citizens the vision and current status of Gwangyang's "future food industries," such as the hydrogen industry and secondary battery industry, aiming to dream of a better future for Gwangyang.

Additionally, side events have been prepared, including a photo exhibition reflecting on Gwangyang's past and present over the last 40 years, field experiences at POSCO Gwangyang Steel Mill and Gwangyang Port, busking performances visiting citizens at Seocheon Riverside and Jungma 23 Park in Gwangyang-eup, and the "1st Gwangyang City Businessperson's Day Commemorative Citizen Soccer Tournament."

We sincerely appreciate the citizens of Gwangyang participating with joy and cheering on these events.

We are now standing in the midst of a great transformation era.

Changes in climate and environment, supply chain restructuring, deepening social polarization, low birthrate issues, and increasing uncertainties in the global economic environment are demanding new changes in entrepreneurship.

If entrepreneurship was defined by past scholars as adventurous spirit, challenge, or disruptive innovation, the complexity of the current era's challenges is recognized not only as a government issue but also as a problem for businesspeople, requiring a new entrepreneurship spirit that responds to society's demands and is gaining consensus.

Understanding and empathy for the deepening anguish of businesspeople, as well as support and encouragement, are needed at this time.

We hope that on November 4, the [1st Gwangyang City Businessperson's Day Commemoration Ceremony and New Entrepreneurship Spirit Proclamation] will be a meaningful time to remember and express gratitude and respect to the predecessors and businesspeople who devoted themselves to making today's Gwangyang possible, to think about what we must do now for the future generations living in Gwangyang, and to foster a beautiful partnership between the region and businesses.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.